What's at Stake in Turkey's Presidential Election

Against the backdrop of a troubled economy, Turks will either extend President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rule into a third decade, or offer his main challenge or the chance to steer Turkey towards a reset. The country has been in the midst of a cost of living crisis and many blame the president's unorthodox economic policies as inflation peaked above 85 percent last year. Turkish central banks still cut interest rates on Erdogan's orders. Turkish lira has cratered by more than 75 percent against the dollar system last election. Many foreign investors have left. Six opposition parties are banding behind Kemal Kliçdarolo, left-centered career civil servant who promises to bring a fresh start to the economy. Most of his career, Kliçdarolo's party has failed to win at the polls, but in 2019 his party unseated income with mayors in large cities including in the capital Ankara and in Istanbul.

Today, the R-National figure is campaigning on Kliçdarolo's behalf. President Erdogan, meanwhile, will look to the heartlands once again, where he is viewed as a strong leader that the country needs to guide them out of hard times. Competing platforms could not be more different, but on May 14, the voters will decide.

Bloomberg